10 Top Apps to Track Baby’s Naps, Feedings, Health History & More

by Julie SegussApril 2, 2024

When you’re a sleep-deprived new parent, how are you supposed to remember when you last fed your baby, how long they slept, or even when they were immunized and for what? Especially during those first few months when leaving the house freshly showered and in spit up-free clothing is considered a near miracle. Here’s the good news. You don’t have to. Some of the best baby tracking apps out there help exhausted parents stay on top of every milestone, feeding, diaper change, nap, and so much more.

1. Baby+

baby+ pink background on a smartphone is a baby tracking app — Philips

With Baby+ parents can track their child's height, weight, and head circumference through interactive graphs, and log information on feedings, diaper changes, sleep, and new teeth to get a better understanding of baby's routine. You can also keep track of baby's milestones and upload photos, as well as help baby relax at night or during feeding time with lullabies and white noise.

Available for iOS devices and on Google Play.

2. Sprout Baby

You can use the Sprout Baby app to record your child's health history (illnesses, symptoms, temperature, medications), as well as to keep track of feedings, bottles, pumping sessions, and diapers. The app features a handy printable report with your child's health data that you can bring to doctor's visits. There's also a memories section for recording milestones and other special moments, which you can then export to an eBook.

Available for iOS devices.

3. Talli

This best baby tracking app includes a device with a white top and wood bottom — Talli

This baby tracking app is a little bit different. It pairs with a stylish device that comes ready to track baby's sleep, bottle feedings, diapers, pumping, and more right out of the box. And it's customizable too, so you can determine which of baby's many activities you track. The companion app is fully integrated to let parents track all sorts of data, see trends, invite family members and caregivers to contribute, and view past events. It's also Alexa enabled, for those moments when you don't have your hands free.

Available for iOS and on Google Play.

4. Tinybeans

Tinybeans is one of the best baby tracking apps

Yup, we've got an app! If you're looking for a secure place to store your baby photos, look no further than Tinybeans. You can edit pics before posting and share them with a select group of family and friends, who can comment on and join in the excitement of all your adorable new memories. The app will prompt you to post (to keep eager relatives appeased) and also track baby's developmental milestones.

Available for iOS and on Google Play.

5. BabySparks

three smartphone screens with a baby sleeping on one, shows best baby tacking app info

This development tracker informs you when children typically learn specific skills, compiled from sources including the American Academy of Pediatrics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. BabySparks also provides activities you can do with your child to support this development. The activities are organized by the area of development: gross motor, fine motor, cognitive, speech, sensory, self-care, and social-emotional, so you can focus on a specific area if you prefer. The app also offers a paid subscription option so parents can access parenting classes.

Available for iOS devices and on Google Play.

6. BabyTime

screenshots of the babytime app, one of the best tracking apps for parents of babies — BabyTime

All caregivers can track and record baby's activities in the BabyTime app. And since it's designed for one-handed operation, you can save all that valuable information while holding baby—a big plus. Track breastfeeding, bottles, sleep, and diapers, and use the slick charts to oversee baby's day or identify trends. There's also a night mode with a low-contrast background that's easier on your eyes.

Available for iOS devices and on Google Play.

7. Baby Connect

a best baby tracker app, three smartphones with apps to track baby's needs — Baby Connect

Baby Connect records diaper changes, naps, moods, feedings, medicines, photos, and activities, and displays it in graphs and charts to help you identify trends. Multiple users can access your kid's info so your babysitter, Grandma, and other caregivers can see what baby has been up to and keep you updated, too. And the voice integrations mean you can record important information, even when your hands are full.

Available for iOS devices and Android.

8. Baby Tracker

Screenshots of the Baby Tracker app, one of the best baby tracking apps — Baby Tracker

Love knowing when every little thing happened and when it might happen again? Baby Tracker keeps track of every element of your baby's day, including sleep, feedings, and diaper changes. You may even discover your newborn's natural daily routines and nap schedule by comparing a week's or a month's worth of days. You can also track and record memories, growth, medical history, milestones, and more.

Available for iOS devices and on Google Play.

9. Baby Feed Timer

screenshots of the baby feed app, one of the best tracking apps for parents of babies — Baby Feed Timer

Nursing moms love the Baby Feed Timer app because you can record which side you fed your infant with last. Bottle-feeding parents love that you can keep track of just how much formula baby took each time. This baby tracking app will also tell you when it's time for the next feeding. Plus, it tracks diapers, pumping, medication administration, sleep, and solid feedings, making it useful past the first year.

Available for iOS devices and on Google Play.

10. Glow Baby

screenshots of the glow baby app, one of the best tracking apps for parents of babies — Glow Baby

This baby tracking app for the first year tracks developmental milestones, feedings, diapers, sleep, baby's ailments, medications, and more. Use Glow Baby's timers to manage feeding and sleep schedules, and then head to the in-app community to chat with other parents and share strategies and successes.

Available for iOS devices and on Google Play.

What to Do If Your Kid Wants to Create a YouTube Channel for Themselves

by Melissa HeckscherOctober 7, 2023

Find out everything from how old you have to be to have a YouTube Channel to how to create a YouTube channel and why screen time limits are still important

Does your kid obsess over YouTube gamers and videos like they’re the only thing on a screen worth watching? It’s only a matter of time before they want to know how to create a YouTube channel themselves. But what does that mean, exactly? More importantly, is it OK? The answer, says Common Sense Media, is mostly yes—as long as parents keep a watchful eye over their kids’ online endeavors and follow a few basic guidelines to help safeguard their kids’ privacy. Here’s everything you need to know about how to create a YouTube channel for kids.

Why the Obsession with YouTube?

It may seem foreign to parents, but making a YouTube video isn’t all that much different from wanting to stage a talent show for friends and family; it’s just the audience that’s bigger.

“Even though you may have concerns about the risks of broadcasting on the web—and they are legitimate,” says this article from Common Sense Media, “your kid may see it as a way of expressing herself, learning digital video skills, sharing with friends and experimenting creatively. It’s important to balance your concerns with the benefits she can reap.”

“With your guidance and support, she can do it safely, and it might be a fun project that may be useful down the road. In fact, more and more kids are using their online channels—whether it’s a Tumblr blog, an Instagram photo collection, or a Snapchat story—as digital portfolios to showcase their work to employers, colleges, and potential collaborators.”

At What Age Can You Start a YouTube Channel?

two kids learning about how to create a YouTube channel — iStock

Officially, YouTube forbids children under the age of 13 from creating their own accounts, and children between ages 13 and 17 are only allowed to open accounts with parental permission. Of course, these rules don't say anything about parents opening an account for their child; this is allowed. Ryan, the eight-year-old star of Ryan's World, is one of YouTube's biggest stars, with over 24 million subscribers tuning in to watch him play and review toys, do science experiments, and more. It's no paltry gig—Ryan earned a reported $24 million in 2019, which includes revenue from not only his YouTube Channel but also his line of toys that can be found at big box stores everywhere.

"Ryan was watching a lot of toy review channels—some of his favorites are TheTubeFamily and Hulyan Maya—because they used to make a lot of videos about Thomas the Tank Engine, and Ryan was super into Thomas,” his mother said in an interview with TubeFilter. "One day, he asked me, 'How come I’m not on YouTube when all the other kids are?’ So we just decided—yeah, we can do that. Then, we took him to the store to get his very first toy—I think it was a LEGO train set—and it all started from there.”

How to Make a YouTube Channel for Kids

1. Create a Gmail account for your child if they are under 13 years old. This will give them a YouTube account but not a YouTube channel.

2. Create a YouTube Channel by clicking "Select My Channel" on the sidebar on the left of the YouTube homepage. This is where users can select the name to be associated with their YouTube channel. For kids, do not use their real/whole names since these names will be broadcast to anyone watching the videos.

3. Set the privacy settings so that everything is private or unlisted. Private means that only those you invite to view the channel can watch the videos; unlisted means only those with the particular video links can see them. Also, turn off comments so your kid won't have to read unkind or inappropriate remarks from other users. Note: These privacy settings mean that only friends and family can view your child's page, which is great when it comes to keeping them safe; not so great if they're trying to build a following.

For more details on creating a YouTube channel, click here. For points to consider before doing it, click here.

Tips for Keeping Kids Safe Online

tween girl on phone late at night — iStock

Edit for Privacy Purposes
Since putting up videos on YouTube essentially allows anyone (depending on your channel's privacy settings) to see and hear your child, parents must keep a close eye on what their kids are doing to make sure they aren't accidentally revealing any personal information. We recommend that you don't allow your children to show their faces in their videos. This means OK to narrating Minecraft games, sporting events and stop-motion animation shows, and yes to a stuffed animal or puppet performances where they do the voices.

Also, YouTube has new safety measures when it comes to kids. Parents will be able to create a supervised Google account, which will come with content settings and limited features. You can see all the details here.

Be Their #1 Viewer
Be sure to watch all of the videos your child posts. This can be tedious, but you have to make sure your kids aren't accidentally revealing any personal information (where they go to school, where they live, etc.).

Put Limits on Recording Time
Like any other screen time activity, it's best to limit your child's recording sessions to 30-60 minutes.

Make Videos with Them
It can be a fun family activity if you help your kids make a video to publish online. They'll love getting YouTube time, and you'll love being able to add some grown-up finesse to the project. Here's our step-by-step tutorial that'll give you all the details, plus the best gadgets to buy.

Looking Pretty Fry: 7 Bite-Sized Facts about French Fries

by Amber GuetebierJune 11, 2022

French fries are delicious. They are also world record holders

You’ve consumed a fry or two in your day, but we’re betting you’ve never had one as long or eaten them as fast as some of the world record holders. Read on to learn a few fun facts about french fries, perfect for dipping in and out. When you’re done, check out our list of fun facts for kids.

1. The most considerable helping of fries was served at Twin Oaks Farms in Eagle, Idaho on Sep. 20, 2014. It weighed 1003 lbs. It used 1256 lbs. of raw potatoes and 110 gallons of oil to fry them up.

2. In many parts of the world, French fries are known as American fries.

3. The world’s longest French fry is 34 inches, discovered at Taffy’s Hot Dog Stand in Buffalo, NY by diner John Benbenek in July of 2010.

4. Thomas Jefferson is said to have requested that the White House chef, a French man, prepare for him “potatoes served in the French manner” for a dinner party. These are believed to be some of the first French fries in the United States. The year? 1802.

5. Here’s a fun fact about French fries—the Belgians eat more fries per capita than any other European country.

6. Hugh Rutherford of Oakland, CA set a record on Aug. 25, 2011, for eating a medium-sized order of fries (from Burger King) in a record-breaking one minute and 46.40 seconds. In 2013 in Hamburg, Germany, a woman known only as Caroline E. ate 20 french fries in 2 minutes, and 21.70 seconds without using her hands.

7. We call potatoes spuds after the spade-like tool once used to harvest them by hand.

Fun Sports Trivia for Kids & Their Grown-Ups

by Amber GuetebierMay 24, 2022

If your kids have heard of Babe Ruth but aren’t sure if it’s a kind of candy, don’t worry! We know kids love fun facts, and from facts about Wilma Rudolph to the actual diameter of a basketball hoop, we’ve rounded up some fun sports trivia for kids.

1. In 1962, Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single NBA basketball game. No one has broken this record (not even Steph Curry!).

2. Babe Ruth began his career as a pitcher: Ruth was both a left-handed pitcher and left-handed batter.

3. The record for the long jump is held by Mike Powell: 29 ft. + 4 inches. That’s like jumping the length of two minivans!

4. The most medals won for Olympic basketball (male or female) are both held by women: Teresa Edwards and Lisa Leslie with four gold medals each.

5. Here's some amazing sports trivia for kids: Wilma Rudolph (who set the world record in 1960 for 100, 200 and 4x100-meter relay) had polio, scarlet fever and pneumonia as a child, leading doctors to believe she’d never walk again.

football sports trivia for kids — Dave Adamson on Unsplash

6. NFL Super Bowl referees also get Super Bowl rings.

7. In 1919, Cleveland Indians pitcher Ray Caldwell was struck by lightning in the middle of the 9th inning. He kept playing!

8. The 'G' on the Green Bay Packers helmet stands for "greatness", not Green Bay!

9. Baseballs last an average of seven pitches.

10. Manon Rheaume is the only woman to have played in an NHL game.

11. Golf is one of only two sports every played on the moon. In 1971, Alan Shepard hit a ball with a six-iron while on the moon as part of the Apollo 14 mission. The other sport was a javelin toss, during the same visit.

basketball hoop sports trivia for kids — Andy Hu on Unsplash

12. Goal posts are painted yellow in football.

13. In the game of tennis, a score of "love" means zero.

14. The diameter of a basketball hoop is 18 inches.

15. Golf is the only sport that has been played on the moon. This occurred in February 1971.

16. In Thailand, kite flying is a professional sport.

17. The Olympics used to include artists, musicians and sculptors.

18. Due to World Wars, the Olympics have been canceled three times.

19. Figure skating is the oldest winter Olympic sport.

20. Women were allowed to compete in the Olympics beginning in 1900.

29 Facts about Babe Ruth to Share with Your Kids

by Amber GuetebierMarch 7, 2022

When it comes to baseball there are a few names that ring out louder than the sound of the ball hitting the bat. Arguably one of the most famous is Babe Ruth. Read on for some interesting history about the Sultan of Swat.

1. Babe Ruth was born on February 6, 1895, as George Herman Ruth.

2. But for decades he thought his actual birthday was February 7th, 1894. He only discovered his real birthday after applying for a passport for a trip to Japan in 1934.

3. Ruth was sent to a Catholic Boys Reformatory school at the age of 7. Each child was trained with an industrial career. Ruth was trained to be a shirt maker.

4. Young George Ruth played baseball at the school, thanks to encouragement by the monks.

5. For a time, young Ruth lived above what is now Camden Yards in Baltimore, above one of his father's saloons.

6. He was signed to the major leagues at the age of 19.

7. He is the only baseball player in history to have the last name Ruth.

8. He was the first baseball player to hit a home run in the All-Star game, at Chicago’s Comiskey Park in 1933.

9. Why Babe? Some say it’s because Ruth was so young when signed to MLB he required legal guardianship and was “adopted” by one of the monks. Others say it was just because he was still merely a babe.

10. His other nicknames included Bambino, the Home Run King and The Sultan of Swat.

11. He began his career as a pitcher: Ruth was both a left-handed pitcher and a left-handed batter.

12. He was the first highest plaid player when in 1930, his salary hit the $80,000 mark.

13. Ruth played for the Boston Red Sox (1914-1919), the New York Yankees (1920-1934) and briefly the Boston Braves (1935).

14. In six seasons with Ruth, the Red Sox won three World Series titles. In 107 seasons without him they have won four.

15. Babe Ruth had what many consider to be his finest season in 1921. He hit .378/.512/.846 with 59 home runs, 171 RBIs and 177 runs scored. The home run and RBI totals were single-season records.

16. While the myth surrounding the "Curse of the Bambino" states Ruth was sold to finance the musical No, No, Nanette, it was, in fact, the musical My Lady Friends, which benefitted from the sale.

17. At an exhibition game (a “for fun” or charity game) on April 2, 1931, a 17-year-old female pitcher named Jackie Mitchell struck Ruth out (Mitchell then went on to strike out Lou Gehrig.)

18. Babe Ruth was knocked unconscious during a game at Griffith Stadium in Washington D.C. He hit a concrete wall trying to catch a foul ball.

19. Although many believed him past his prime, on May 25, 1935, Babe Ruth played one of his final games in the major leagues hitting 3 home runs in a single game. He retired the next week.

20. In 1914, he married Helen Woodford, a coffee-shop waitress he met on his first day in Boston.

21. Babe Ruth only had one child in his lifetime. He had a daughter named Dorothy Ruth with Juanita Jennings.

22. Babe Ruth retired in 1935 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936. He was one of the first five players to be inducted. The Yankees retired his famous number 3.

23. Upon his retirement, he was the career record holder in home runs, RBIs, total bases, walks and strikeouts.

24. The Sultan of Swat played 2503 games in his Major League career. During that time he had 2174 runs and stole 123 bases. Of his runs, 714 were home runs. In 1927 alone he scored 60 home runs. (This was the world record until Hank Aaron hit 755 in 1974 and Barry Bonds reached 762 in 2007 for the all-time record.)

25. In 1922, you could get chocolate-covered ice cream balls called Babe Ruth Home Runs. They cost 10 cents.

26. The candy bar, Baby Ruth, is most likely named for Babe Ruth. The bar was formerly called Kandy Kake but the name was changed right around Ruth’s rise to popularity. Because “official” permission was not requested, the company (then the Curtiss Candy Co.) denied that Babe Ruth was the namesake. However, in 1995, the Babe Ruth estate licensed his name and likeness for use in a Baby Ruth marketing campaign with Nestle.

27. Babe Ruth appeared as himself in four different movies. In one, he lost 40 pounds in order to play a younger version of himself.

29. Yankee Stadium opened on April 18, 1923. Ruth hit the first home run there, earning it the name “The House that Ruth Built.” In 1947, Happy Chandler declared April 27 officially Babe Ruth Day, and Ruth addressed the crowds at Yankee Stadium. At the time, Ruth had already been diagnosed with throat cancer.

29. Babe Ruth died at the age of 53 in 1948. For two days, his coffin was laid in state (open casket) at Yankee Stadium for fans to pay their final respects. More than 100,000 people attended.

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10 Ways to Get Kids to Enjoy Gardening

By Suzan Chiang

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

March 2, 2022

It seems like I’ve been gardening all my life. And teaching children the skills and love for gardening are what brings me joy in the gardening world. If you can see their huge smiles and excitement as they watch their plants grow, then you know you have instilled a love for nature. I still remember as a young child, my parents would bring me out to their backyard to help plant pumpkin seeds. I then graduated to planting tree saplings to learning how to transplant, divide plants, and propagate.

While not every child desires to learn about plants, most of them do however enjoy being outdoors and digging their fingers in the soil. There are health benefits to growing your own garden or planting your own food. You get to be outside in fresh air, you decide on what you want to grow, you can see pollinators visit your garden, and you can enjoy the bounty of your fresh fruits and vegetables! And there are many easy-to-grow plants for children no matter their skill level. And with spring just around the corner, now is the best time to prepare for your spring planting. If you like to start with seeds, get them ready as most seeds take about 7-10 days to sprout and then 2-3 months for the plants to be fully grown. If you can’t wait for the seeds to sprout and transplant, then seedlings or small established plants might be a better choice.

Below are 10 ways of getting your child interested in growing their own garden. These are fairly easy steps and you can start small with just a few plants.

1. Start off with easy to grow plants. Beans, beets, carrots, peas, radishes, and tomatoes are all easy beginner plants. Buy organic seeds or seedlings whenever possible as these are edible plants. Peas, tomatoes, and carrots can be easily grown in planters too.

2. Enlist them in the garden design. Decide on whether you want to grow in a planter or directly in the ground. Planters are great for beginners or if you have a small space. Pick planters that have good drainage holes.

3. Make it personal by planting a favorite flower. Check out planting seasons and plant their favorite flower or birth flower.

4. Study the full life cycle of a seed. Most seeds take about 7-10 days to sprout. Seedlings are usually about 2-3 inches tall and can be planted directly into the ground or in a planter that can accommodate the size of a fully grown plant. Growing from seeds is particularly fun because your child can track the growth of the seed as it germinates into a seedling!

5. Take your child to a garden center. Walk around the garden center to see what’s in season and get inspiration. Talk to a horticulturist while there to get some insider tips on growing a bountiful garden! And while you’re there, pick up some plants to take home.

6. Purchase basic garden tools. Buy thick gloves, garden spade, garden hand trowel, a small rake, garden shears, and a watering can. Get either child-size tools or smaller adult sizes so they’ll grow with your child.

7. Go on a nature walk at a local park or arboretum. This will inspire both you and your child to appreciate and discover various plants. Oftentimes arboretums will sell native plants so they’re great for your little ones to choose for themselves.

8. Create a plant journal. Depending on the age of your child, you can have them start a plant journal where they can draw or cut out pictures of what they’re planting. Then record the start date of planting and the growth period. This also helps develop good recording skills for future planting and gardening techniques.

9. Grow specific plants for pollinators. Great plants to grow for butterflies and bees are native flowers or all-inclusive plants such as herbs, sunflowers, and daisies. Pollinators help increase the growth of your own plants as well as help them pollinate other plants. I love growing Milkweed for our Monarch butterflies during springtime. These unique and beautiful pollinators are instantly attracted to this specific plant and you’ll get to watch the cute little caterpillars too!

10. Plant a hummingbird habitat garden. Once in a while, I will grow plants that hummingbirds love right in front of my front door. It’s so delightful to hear their little wings flap as they drink the nectar from my plants. Hummingbird plants include Butterfly Bush, Trumpet Vine, and Honeysuckles. Just think of anything in a tubular flower shape where their long beaks can fit into the flowers. Instill the love of gardening and being in nature when your child is young. Teach them basic gardening skills and they’ll soon want to grow a garden for you! Happy gardening!

Suzan Chiang

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

I am a mom first and foremost. I might not be a supermom, but I am constantly learning and growing.Topics I stand with are parenting, the environment, and living a healthy and happy lifest‌yle. I work at an elementary school and I have 30 years experience in the health industry.

How to Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometown

by Amber GuetebierFebruary 28, 2022

Vacation is an adventure, and anyone who’s ever changed a diaper in a tiny airplane restroom can attest, adventure isn’t always, uh…easy. Take the distance out of traveling and take “staycation” to heart by playing tourist in your own town. Whether you live in the city, the country or somewhere in between, we’ve got some great ways to make your everyday into something postcard-worthy. Read on for ideas.

Dress the part: Comfy walking shoes, a fedora and sunglasses and weather-appropriate layers. A giant camera around the neck is optional, but it's ever-so-fun. Binoculars make a great accessory. Bonus points for socks with sandals, brightly colored floral tops and anything that has your town's logo on it.

Pack lightly and carry a big crayon: Any parent ever will tell you that the packing process for a vacation is just that: a process. Get the kids involved in this small-scale version by creating a checklist, with items like pens or crayons, stamps for your postcards, a journal, a camera, small bags for collected treasure or whatever seems to fit your day out.

Create an agenda without an agenda: Visit your chamber of commerce (or chamber’s website) and check out the brochures for local fun! Let your kids choose one touristy thing to do, likely something that you’ve never done before. Go on a duck boat tour, rent bikes if you don’t have any of your own, stop into a local museum you keep walking past or just take your time going into a few shops.

Look up and look down: Observe local architecture. Use binoculars to view the features of downtown buildings in greater detail. Stop and admire a sign. Let the children lead without a rush.

Ask out loud: Take time to ask the barista, shopkeeper or local on the park bench a question or two. What do they know about the history of your town? How long have they lived here? Tourists are known for being friendly and curious!

Close up of a young family enjoying city life while traveling — iStock

Get lost: Try using a paper map to navigate your way. Have each person in your crew pick a place from the map they'd like to visit. Don't use your GPS to get you back on track unless you're in dire need or feel unsafe. Enjoy what comes your way. If you get lost, ask someone for directions! Nothing says "tourist" more than that!

Make a written record: Stop by the local drugstore/tourist shop/gas station and grab a postcard. Then find a spot in a park or a coffee shop, grab a drink and write out your cards. Send one to your best friend, even if they live next door. Use the postcard to record a cool observation about your town. Parents can secretly write one out to their kids. If you didn't pack stamps, tromp over to the post office to grab a few.

Spend your hard-earned extra cash: Book a hotel room (try a last-minute deal on a travel site like Priceline). The beauty is you barely have to throw more than PJs and toothbrushes into a suitcase. And you can jump on the bed, splash in the pool and just vaycay without any muss or fuss (or too much cleaning up).

Put down the selfie-stick: If you have an older digital camera you don't use as much, let the children be in charge of taking photos all day. At least once, whether with your phone or your camera, stop and ask a nice-looking local to take your group photo. It's not just about getting the shot; you'll make a connection and bring a smile to a stranger's face. If you see someone you know, have them take your photo or get in on the photo! They'll love hearing about your crazy local adventure.

Gather souvenirs: You don’t have to load up on magnets and shot glasses. Save a receipt from a meal you loved, a penny you found on the ground, even a wayward pinecone your kid insisting on picking up. Put all these items in a mason jar with a label for the day, or press them into a scrapbook.

—Amber Guetebier

Blippi Is Heading Back Out on Tour & Here’s How to Get Tickets

by Karly WoodNovember 16, 2021

Are your kiddos major fans of Blippi? Well it’s time for the YouTube sensation to get out from behind the screen and entertain the family live, in round two of his super popular tour!

Moonbug Entertainment and Round Room Live have just announced that Blippi The Musical will resume touring North America in February 2022. Blippi will be bringing his educational and energetic content to to cities all across the U.S., with tickets already going on sale.

photo: Courtesy of Shore Fire Media

“After multiple sold out shows in over 65 markets this past summer, we’re excited for even more audiences to experience Blippi The Musical in 2022,” says Stephen Shaw (the tour’s producer and co-president of Round Room Live). “We’re thrilled to continue to provide exciting and lasting memories for the whole family while prioritizing safety with venue and health officials in every city.”

While the entire list of cities have not been released yet, so far Blippi will appear in the following locales:

Friday, Feb. 4 – Merrill Auditorium – Portland, ME
Saturday, Feb. 5 – Emerson Colonial Theatre – Boston, MA
Sunday, Feb. 6 – Cross Insurance Center – Bangor, ME
Tuesday, Feb. 8 – New Jersey Performing Arts Center – Newark, NJ
Wednesday, Feb. 9 – Bushnell Performing Arts Center – Hartford, CT
Thursday, Feb. 10 – Proctors Theater – Schenectady, NY
Friday, Feb. 11 – Shea’s Performing Arts Center – Buffalo, NY
Saturday, Feb. 12 – Lyric Theatre – Baltimore, MD
Tuesday, Feb. 15 – Benedum Center – Pittsburgh, PA
Wednesday, Feb. 16 – 1^stSummit Arena – Johnstown, PA
Thursday, Feb. 17 – Berglund Performing Arts Theatre – Roanoke, VA
Friday, Feb. 18 – John Paul Jones Arena – Charlottesville, VA
Saturday, Feb. 19 – Thomas Wolfe Civic Auditorium – Asheville, NC
Sunday, Feb. 20 – Macon City Auditorium – Macon, GA
Tuesday, Feb. 22 – SKyPAC – Bowling Green, KY
Wednesday, Feb. 23 – Old National Center Events Plaza – Theater – Evansville, IN
Thursday, Feb. 24 – Rupp Arena – Lexington, KY
Friday, Feb. 25 – Rialto Square Theatre – Joliet, IL
Saturday, Feb. 26 – Fisher Theatre – Detroit, MI
Sunday, Feb. 27 – Carson Center – Paducah, KY
Tuesday, Mar. 1 – Landmark Theater – Syracuse, NY
Thursday, Mar. 3 – Hershey Theatre – Hershey, PA
Friday, Mar. 4 – The Palace Theatre – Stamford, CT
Saturday, Mar. 5 – Kings Theatre – Brooklyn, NY
Sunday, Mar. 6 – Flynn Center for the Performing Arts – Burlington, VT
Tuesday, Mar. 8 – Mohegan Sun Arena – Wilkes-Barre, PA
Wednesday, Mar. 9 – Forum Theatre – Binghamton, NY
Thursday, Mar. 10 – Kodak Center – Rochester, NY
Friday, Mar. 11 – Embassy Theatre – Fort Wayne, IN
Saturday, Mar. 12 – Miller High Life Theatre – Milwaukee, WI
Tuesday, Mar. 15 – Duluth Symphony Hall – Duluth, MN
Wednesday, Mar. 16 – State Theatre – Minneapolis, MN
Thursday, Mar. 17 – Chester Fritz Auditorium – Grand Forks, ND
Friday, Mar. 18 – Washington Pavilion – Sioux Falls, SD
Saturday, Mar. 19 – Five Flags Event Center – Dubuque, IA
Tuesday, Mar. 22 – Hartman Arena – Wichita, KS
Wednesday, Mar. 23 – Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts – Colorado Springs, CO
Thursday, Mar. 24 – Fine Arts Theatre – Rapid City, SD
Sunday, Mar. 27 – Theater at the Brick – Bozeman, MT
Wednesday, Mar. 30 – Ford Wyoming Center – Casper, WY
Thursday, Mar. 31 – Eccles Theatre – Salt Lake City, UT

Parents can head to BlippiTheMusical.com for tour dates and tickets. If your littles absolutely can’t wait to catch Blippi on stage, you can stream the North American Tour Cast Recording of his show, which features 13 songs, by heading to moonbug.lnk.to/BLive.

––Karly Wood

New Netflix Movie “Fatherhood” Is a Guaranteed Tearjerker

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These Are the Top Destinations for Fall Travel, According to Latest Airbnb Report

by Sarah ShebekAugust 30, 2021

If Airbnb’s record night of 4 million guests is any indication, the travel industry is bouncing back. Now the vacation rental company has dropped the top travel trends of Labor Day weekend and the fall. From long weekend stays to fall getaways, read on for all the details!

When the company compared seasonal data from 2019 with this year, weekend trips with families were up 70%. For the upcoming holiday weekend, which officially signals the end of summer in the U.S., many of the trips booked are seven nights or longer. Some of the top destinations for Labor Day:

Anchorage, AK
Kansas City, MO
Philadelphia, PA
Mexico City, Mexico
Kenai Peninsula, AK
East Bay, CA
Seattle, WA
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Santa Fe, NM
Greensboro, NC

Of course, Labor Day doesn’t mean that travel is over for the year. Travelers continue to be quite interested in fall trips, with a particular interest in mid-sized cities and larger cities that show off the season’s beauty. The list of top spots for the fall getaways:

New York, NY
Chicago, IL
Boston, MA
Washington, DC
Cincinnati, OH
Charlotte, NC
Minneapolis, MN
Southern Maine
Berkshires, MA
Denver, CO
Newport, RI

Safe travel continues to be the top priority , which is why Airbnb made more than 100 upgrades across its entire service, including an emphasis on flexible searches. Wherever you’re headed this fall, stay healthy and enjoy making memories with your family!

––Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Adam Planas

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Make Your National Park Trip Amazing With These Park Ranger Tips

by Sarah ShebekMay 28, 2021

National parks are hot this summer. Last year 15 parks set a new recreation visitation record and five broke a record they set in 2019, according to NPS data. With parks fully reopened and travel skyrocketing, it might be tough to get away from the crowds, but a new campaign from the National Park Service gives you insider tips for making the most of your family’s visit.

“Plan Your Vacation Like a Park Ranger” features advice from actual park rangers, who share their knowledge for a memorable trip. To bag that trail you’ve been dreaming about and/or avoid an unpleasant encounter between your toddler and a wild animal, read on!

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A post shared by National Park Service (@nationalparkservice)

Have a plan…and a backup plan. Use the National Parks website to research in advance and be prepared for unpredictable weather, trail closures or lines. Sometimes the backup is even better than the original!
Be patient with each other and us. Park rangers are people too. The NPS is reminding guests that those who are not fully vaccinated must wear a mask indoors and in crowded spaces.
Travel off the beaten path. Did you know there’s an advanced search feature that will let you find parks or national monuments closest to you? There are more than 400 to choose from, after all!
Reservations may be needed. Especially at the bigger parks, where you’ll need a reservation ticket for Arches’ popular Fiery Furnace hike, for example.
Ask a ranger. They’re the experts on their parks and they’re happy to help!
Explore the new NPS app. Download this in advance of your trip (it even works offline)!
Keep safety in the picture. You might have to wait a minute for that perfect photo opp, so resist the urge to put yourself in danger to get one for the ‘Gram.
Don’t pet the fluffy cows. Bison, in case you were wondering. And that applies to all other wildlife in the park too! Keep your distance and never feed them to keep everyone a safe and happy camper.
Leave only footprints. Pack it in, pack it out. Stay on the trail. Basically, leave everything the way you found it for future generations to enjoy.
Ruffing it? Parks vary on their pet policies: some let you bring them on the trails, some require that they stay at the campground and some prohibit pets. Research in advance and remember, some have kennel options too!

You’ll find even more tips from individual parks all summer long by following the hashtag #PlanLikeAParkRanger across social media. The National Park Service official Instagram account is an especially good (and humorous) place to start. Parks are for the people and we can’t wait to see the epic trips you take!

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Kylie Kirkland

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